Spain – the first country to legalise marriage equality, in 2005 – will see its capital city, Madrid, celebrate 40 years of Pride this year.

The first “parade” was actually a gay rights protest match in 1977. Since then it’s been held each year in the city centre on the first weekend in July.

This year the city is hosting World Pride and EuroPride – the first time one city has hosted both in the same year.

WE Party is the official festival of Madrid World Pride, which runs from June 24 to July 2, and this will be the launchpad of the summer festival of WE Parties across Europe. More than 60,000 participants from all over the world are expected at this year’s Madrid World Pride WE Party.

This special-edition WE Party will feature:

the extended length of nine days long;

11 separate events;

various huge locations, including Ciudad Del Rock and Fabrik, and some of the biggest and best locations in Madrid;

several outdoor venues, including the huge pool party and a massive open-air party; and

a dedicated WE Party float in the Grand Parade.

More features will be announced as they’re added to the lineup.

This year Madrid World Pride has been extended include the date of the Stonewall riots in New York, on the morning of June 28, 1969, which was the trigger for the first ever protest march for gay rights.

Madrid's Parade has been the world's biggest gay rights parade since EuroPride in 2007 in that city. Ten years later it’s still one of the most important Prides in the world with more than 2 million participants and an expected 3 million spectators this year.

This Pride has the institutional support of the Central Government, the community of Madrid and the Mayor of Madrid, who last year declared that Madrid Pride is now officially a Festival of General Interest of the city.

Almost a half-million tourists visit the city each year for regular Pride. This number will grow way beyond that for World Pride this year, which also marks 12 years of marriage equality in Spain.

As the Festival and Pride go hand in hand, WE Party is the official party at these celebrations for Madrid World Pride, representing the city and as an international sponsor of Madrid Pride.

Viva la Vida is the motto of World Pride this year, without translation (which nevertheless would be “Live Life”), and is the official slogan in each of the Prides in the countries involved in InterPride. World Pride in Madrid will feature huge shows in public venues in the most important squares of the city. World Pride Park, in Madrid Rio, will be another of the most significant locations this year.

And WE Party is offering the biggest parties for the festival, with impressive productions, scenarios, lights, LED screens and stunning visuals.

MADRID WORLD PRIDE | Headliners of the WE Party international DJs for this year.